LONDON – Qatar Airways & Virgin Australia have inaugurated their codesharing arrangement and will be in place for travel effective from today.
This deal was announced back in May 2022, with members of the Privilege Club being able to earn Avios & QPoints on flights operated by the Australian carrier.
For Velocity Frequent Flyer Members, Velocity Points and Status Credits can be acquired from flights operated by Qatar Airways.
Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Akbar Al Baker said: “Unlike other airlines, we were determined to keep flying to and from Australia during Covid, get desperate people home, and keep businesses connected to the world, now we have strengthened our presence even more in cooperation with our good friends at Virgin Australia.
“This partnership will also allow Qatar Airways Privilege Club members to earn and redeem Avios when flying on Virgin Australia. Passengers will benefit from the award-winning facilities of our hub at Hamad International Airport, recently voted the World’s Best Airport for two consecutive years, to create a comfortable journey.”
“It also opens up Australia to our passengers flying in on Qatar Airways flights, after such a long, difficult time.”
Virgin Australia Group Chief Executive Officer, Jayne Hrdlicka, said: “Today is an incredibly exciting day for Virgin Australia and our loyal Velocity Frequent Flyer members with Qatar Airways officially joining the Virgin Australia family.
“We are continuing to deliver on our promise to grow our international network, and from today, our guests will have direct access to over 150 destinations worldwide on the Qatar Airways network, including more access to the Middle East, Europe, and Africa than we have ever offered in the history of our airline.”
“For our more than 10.8 million Velocity members, they’ll now be able to earn and redeem Velocity Points to over 500 destinations globally when traveling with Virgin Australia, Qatar Airways, and our long list of renowned international airline partners.”
“Eligible Velocity members will also receive a host of premium benefits when traveling with Qatar Airways, including access to the lounge and priority check-in and boarding.”
“The partnership will also allow Virgin Australia to show our famous hospitality and all the incredible scenery and unique experiences we have in Australia when Qatar Airways’ customers and Privilege Club members fly on our network,”
A Positive Deal for the Future…
It remains clear that this is going to be a very positive deal for Virgin Australia, especially as this new strategic arrangement opens up the destination portfolio for them.
For Qatar Airways, the airline will reap the benefits of the Australian domestic market, which Virgin Australia does sufficiently at this point.
Looking ahead, it’s going to be interesting to see how much success this partnership will have, and, if it does, whether this will result in an expanded codesharing arrangement on top of the strategic tie-in.
Even so, this partnership is one to keep an eye on, especially if there is a load of success off the back of this because this could potentially fuel Virgin Australia’s return to long-haul sometime in the future.
